Pete Carroll Out: Las Vegas Raiders Pull Trigger On Veteran Coach
Posted on: January 5, 2026, 02:58h.
Last updated on: January 5, 2026, 03:07h.
- Las Vegas Raiders fire Carroll as head coach after just one season on the job
- Raiders general manager John Spytek keeps his job
- Raiders finished last overall in NFL, own No. 1 pick in this spring’s NFL Draft
The day after the NFL regular season is typically a flurry of headlines of organizations firing coaches and general managers after teams didn’t meet expectations, and the Las Vegas Raiders’ Pete Carroll was among the first to be shown the door today.
It had been rumoured for a few weeks that the Raiders were going to move on from Carroll, 74, after a disappointing season that saw the team finish 3-14, last overall in the NFL. Carroll was in his first season coaching the Raiders, having signed a three-year contract.
The Raiders have also a lot invested in quarterback Geno Smith, who ended up leading the NFL in interceptions (17), 20th in passing yards (3,025). Smith agreed on a two-year extension with the Raiders just a month after they traded for him last spring, for a maximum $85.5 million, $66.5 million guaranteed. Smith had seen a career revival under Carroll when the latter was coaching him in Seattle, with the Seahawks.
Spytek Stays
Carroll went to two Super Bowls as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, winning one in 2014. With the Seahawks, Carroll won five NFC West titles.
Raiders’ general manager John Spytek keeps his job, though. While the team moved on from Carroll, the only consolation for Raiders fans as they enter a rebuild period is the fact they own the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NFL draft. Heisman Trophy QB Fernando Mendoza is the betting favourite to go No. 1 overall, and he fits the bill for the Raiders.
DraftKings‘ updated NFL Draft betting odds: Mendoza -500, QB Dante Moore +425, defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. +2200.
These are trying times for the Raiders, who have, maybe, three players to build around – running back Ashton Jeanty, Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby, and tight end Brock Bowers. Rumours are swirling that the Raiders will trade Crosby, since he was reportedly none too pleased after being told by the coaches he wouldn’t be suiting up for the pivotal game against the New York Giants a few weeks back because of a knee injury. Crosby, who left the Raiders’ facility that day, is looking at knee surgery.
Coaching Carousel
The next Raiders’ head coach will be the team’s sixth since 2021.
Carroll wasn’t the only NFL coach today to be handed his walking papers. During last night’s Pittsburgh Steelers-Baltimore Ravens game, the last game of the regular season, news broke that the Atlanta Falcons fired both head coach Raheem Morris and GM Terry Fontenot.
The Cleveland Browns fired head coach Kevin Stefanski today, after six seasons. The Browns finished 5-12. The Arizona Cardinals fired third-year head coach Jonathan Gannon, after the Cardinals finished 3-14.
The New York Giants fired head coach Brian Daboll in November, and the Tennessee Titans fired head coach Brian Callahan in October.
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